Tiles
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In biblical times, tiles were not as commonly mentioned as other building materials like stone or wood, yet they played a significant role in ancient construction and daily life. Tiles were primarily used for roofing and flooring, providing durability and protection against the elements. The use of tiles in ancient architecture reflects the ingenuity and resourcefulness of the people in biblical lands.

Historical Context

Tiles in the ancient Near East were typically made from clay, which was abundant and easily accessible. The clay was shaped and then fired in kilns to create a hard, durable material. These tiles were often used in the construction of roofs, floors, and sometimes walls. The process of making tiles was labor-intensive, requiring skilled craftsmanship to ensure they were uniform and fit together properly.

Biblical References

While the Bible does not frequently mention tiles explicitly, there are a few instances where they are implied or can be inferred from the context. One notable reference is found in the New Testament, in the account of Jesus healing a paralytic man. In Luke 5:19 (BSB), it is written: "But finding no way to bring him in because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and lowered him on his mat through the tiles into the middle of the crowd, right in front of Jesus." This passage indicates that the house had a tiled roof, which was a common feature in more affluent homes of the period.

Cultural Significance

Tiles were not only functional but also held aesthetic value. In some cultures, tiles were decorated with intricate designs and patterns, reflecting the artistic sensibilities of the time. These decorative tiles could be found in palaces, temples, and homes of the wealthy, serving as a testament to the owner's status and taste.

Symbolism and Interpretation

In a broader symbolic sense, tiles can be seen as representing protection and shelter. Just as tiles cover and protect a home from the elements, so too does God's providence cover and protect His people. The act of removing the tiles to bring the paralytic man to Jesus can be interpreted as a demonstration of faith and determination, illustrating the lengths to which believers will go to seek healing and salvation.

Archaeological Insights

Archaeological excavations in regions such as Israel, Jordan, and Egypt have uncovered numerous examples of ancient tiles, providing insight into their construction and use. These findings have helped scholars understand the architectural practices of biblical times and the daily lives of the people who lived during those periods.

Conclusion

While tiles are not a prominent feature in biblical narratives, their presence in the text and archaeological record highlights their importance in ancient construction and culture. They serve as a reminder of the practical and artistic achievements of the people in biblical times, as well as the enduring themes of protection and faith found throughout Scripture.
Greek
2766. keramos -- a tile
... tile; practically: the roof. Word Origin from kerannumi Definition a tile
NASB Word Usage tiles (1). tiling. Probably from the base ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2766.htm - 6k
Library

Jesus Heals a Paralytic at Capernaum.
... sick of the palsy lay. ^c and let him down through the tiles with his couch
into the midst before Jesus. [Some have thought that ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/xxxv jesus heals a paralytic.htm

Luke's Attitude Towards the Roman World
... And not finding by what way they might bring him in because of the multitude, they
went up to the house-top, and let him down through the tiles with his couch ...
/.../ramsay/was christ born in bethlehem/chapter 3 lukes attitude towards.htm

Of Hypatia the Female Philosopher.
... home, and dragging her from her carriage, they took her to the church called C??sareum,
where they completely stripped her, and then murdered her with tiles. ...
/.../the ecclesiastical history of scholasticus/chapter xv of hypatia the female.htm

The Return to Capernaum - Concerning the Forgiveness of Sins - the ...
... In such case it would have been comparatively easy to unroof' the covering of tiles,'
and then, having dug out' an opening through the lighter framework which ...
/.../edersheim/the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter xvi the return to.htm

B. The Second Period. Chs. 5:1 to 6:11
... him.19 And not finding by what way they might bring him in because of the multitude,
they went up to the housetop, and let him down through the tiles with his ...
/.../erdman/the gospel of luke an exposition/b the second period chs.htm

Carried by Four
... roofs of Oriental houses are often made of big stones; that may be true as a general
rule, but not in this case, for the house was covered with tiles; and as ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 17 1871/carried by four.htm

The Temples and the Gods of Chaldaea
... The central mass of crude brick has preserved its casing of red tiles, cemented
with bitumen, almost intact up to the top; it is strengthened by buttresses ...
/.../chapter iithe temples and the.htm

Diamond Said Nothing to his Mother About his Adventures. ...
... through a brazen vault. The roof of the loft in which he lay had no ceiling;
only the tiles were between him and the sky. For a while ...
/.../macdonald/at the back of the north wind/chapter 5 diamond said nothing.htm

Hymns for the Use of the People Called Methodists
... of last century, in the ancient Roman town of Caistor, the Methodists built a new
chapel, square and high and red, in a county of red bricks and curly red tiles ...
/.../manning/the hymns of wesley and watts five papers/hymns for the use of.htm

He Essays to Speak of the Well-Nigh Divine Endowments of Origen in ...
... as never having been possessed of them, or, it may be, as having lost them"are under
the necessity of using, as it were, only charcoal and tiles, that is to ...
/.../argument ii he essays to speak.htm

Thesaurus
Tiles (1 Occurrence)
... Multi-Version Concordance Tiles (1 Occurrence). Luke 5:19 Not finding a
way to bring him in because of the multitude, they went up ...
/t/tiles.htm - 6k

Tile (1 Occurrence)
... 6. (n.) A draintile. 7. (n.) A stiff hat. 8. (vt) To cover with tiles; as, to
tile a house. 9. (vt) Fig.: To cover, as if with tiles. Int. ...
/t/tile.htm - 7k

Tiling (1 Occurrence)
... 1. (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Tile. 2. (n.) A surface covered with tiles, or composed
of tiles. 3. (n.) Tiles, collectively. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. ...
/t/tiling.htm - 7k

Lowered (14 Occurrences)
... Luke 5:19 Not finding a way to bring him in because of the multitude, they went
up to the housetop, and let him down through the tiles with his cot into the ...
/l/lowered.htm - 10k

Finding (57 Occurrences)
... Luke 5:19 Not finding a way to bring him in because of the multitude, they went
up to the housetop, and let him down through the tiles with his cot into the ...
/f/finding.htm - 23k

Tilgath (3 Occurrences)

/t/tilgath.htm - 7k

Midst (657 Occurrences)
... Luke 5:19 Not finding a way to bring him in because of the multitude, they went
up to the housetop, and let him down through the tiles with his cot into the ...
/m/midst.htm - 37k

Mat (17 Occurrences)
... Luke 5:19 Not finding a way to bring him in because of the multitude, they went
up to the housetop, and let him down through the tiles with his cot into the ...
/m/mat.htm - 12k

Masonry (1 Occurrence)
... 3. (n.) That which is built by a mason; anything constructed of the materials
used by masons, such as stone, brick, tiles, or the like. ...
/m/masonry.htm - 7k

Pavement (9 Occurrences)
... of solid material, laid so as to make a hard and convenient surface for travel;
a paved road or sidewalk; a decorative interior floor of tiles or colored bricks ...
/p/pavement.htm - 11k

Resources
Who was Peter Lombard? | GotQuestions.org

Tiles: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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